Ryan Shea Aiming For Extension With Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the more impressive teams of the 2025-26 season, currently in a strong position as the No. 2 team in the Metropolitan Division, a real bounce-back from last season, when they finished in seventh place.
First-year head coach Dan Muse has rightfully gotten a significant amount of credit for the Penguins’ rapid turnaround, but there have also been individual players who have fueled the team’s reversal in fortunes. One player whose emergence has greatly aided the Penguins has been defenseman Ryan Shea, who now finds himself a pending unrestricted free agent.
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe spoke to Shea about his expiring contract, and Shea was candid about his future, saying “I’m a UFA this summer, and it’s not like I don’t know that, I think I’ve done a pretty good job of setting myself up.”
According to Yohe, Shea is “team-oriented,” and the reporter noted that the player’s focus is singularly on getting the chance to play playoff hockey for the first time in his NHL career.
But when it comes to his future, Shea’s priority isn’t testing free agency and securing a bidding war between other clubs for his services.
He has made it clear he wants to remain a Penguin, telling Yohe: “I absolutely want to be in Pittsburgh moving forward, I want to be here. This is the only organization that gave me a shot. I’m a loyal guy.” Shea added that his expectation is his contract will be dealt with after the season ends, in the summer.
Per Yohe, negotiations on a new contract have not yet taken place between the Penguins’ hockey operations department and Shea’s representatives. Shea is a client of Win Hockey Agency’s Matt Keator.
As Shea himself indicated, his breakout performance in the NHL has positioned him very well entering free agency. Shea’s rise has been so notable that we even covered his case for a hefty pay raise in January.
Shea has signed three successive one-year deals with the Penguins, his first a one-way pact valued at $775K. Shea’s second deal in Pittsburgh was a two-way contract, despite the fact that he played in a then-career-high 31 NHL games in 2023-24. That deal carried a $425K AHL salary and $450K guarantee along with the standard league-minimum $775K NHL salary. Shea’s third deal in Pittsburgh, the contract he’s currently playing on, is a one-year, $900K contract.
Shea has done enough to easily surpass that value on his next deal. AFP Analytics projects Shea’s next contract at three years, $3.43MM AAV. At face value, that seems like a fair number for the role Shea has played, serving as a hefty pay raise while also not breaking the bank by any means.
Shea has been the Penguins’ No. 6 defenseman in terms of average time on ice per game this season, but that doesn’t tell the whole story, as that includes mid-season additions Brett Kulak and Samuel Girard. Among Penguins blueliners who have played over 25 games for the team, Shea ranks No. 4 in average time on ice per game with 18:46. He ranks No. 2 in time on ice per game on the penalty kill, playing 2:14 there per game, which places him just a shade behind Parker Wotherspoon.
It’s clear that Shea has not only earned the trust of Muse, but also his teammates. He’s been a valuable defensive presence, an insulator for the Penguins defensemen who possess more natural offensive talent. Connor Clifton, Shea’s current partner on the team’s third pairing, said of Shea “I don’t really think that people understand how good this guy is,” and “he does everything well, there aren’t any weaknesses there.” Muse also spoke to Shea’s value to the Penguins’ lineup, telling Yohe: “you see the key defensive situations that he’s put in, five-on-five and on the penalty kill.”
With the expiration of his contract looming, Shea looks set to reach a new level of compensation, one commensurate with the on-ice value he’s established. His qualities as an NHL player are no longer a mystery, and neither is his desire to remain in Pittsburgh. All that is left to figure out, for both Shea’s representatives and the Penguins themselves, is the exact price tag it’ll take to get a deal on an extension formally completed.
Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Metropolitan Notes: Shea, Frank, Palmieri
Ahead of their matinee tilt against Carolina, Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse told reporters, including Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports, that Ryan Shea is day-to-day with an apparent facial injury suffered yesterday against Winnipeg.
As a result, Ryan Graves will slot into the lineup today, not having played at the NHL level since January 21. Such is not what you want to see for any 30-year-old making $4.5MM for the next several years, but Shea’s emergence in 2025-26 at just $900k (set to expire this summer) has helped soften the blow considerably. And while Graves’ Penguins tenure has soured, few teams offer such accomplished blueliners as depth.
Drafted back in 2015 by Chicago, Shea was unable to break through for even a single game with the Dallas Stars despite strong AHL production. The 6’1” lefty then caught on with the Penguins in 2023, where he has broken out this year with 28 points in 69 games, his usage jumping to just below 19 minutes a night. As a result, it’s become apparent the 29-year-old late bloomer will be in for a big raise this offseason.
On the other hand, Graves comes back with just one point across 19 games this year. He’s been much more productive in the AHL for Wilkes-Barre with 10 in 15 games, skating in the AHL for the first time since as an Avalanche prospect in 2018-19. The traditional stats don’t look great, but Graves actually offers a solid 52.2% corsi for at five-on-five this season, an improvement over his past Penguins or Devils numbers. If anything, Shea’s performance has played a part in his short leash, playing just 15:29 a contest.
Closing in on an impressive return to the playoffs after a three year hiatus, the Pens will likely welcome back Shea next week, as soon as Tuesday against Colorado.
Elsewhere across the division:
- The Washington Capitals shared mid-game that Ethen Frank suffered a lower body injury and would not return. He was pushed into the post by Colorado’s Devon Toews, skating off while favoring his mid-section. A two-time Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears, the undrafted forward has emerged at age 28 as a full time NHLer. Frank has 24 points in 59 games as a productive bottom sixer with blistering speed. His efforts were rewarded with a two-year extension finalized earlier this month. It’s looking like the Caps will miss the playoffs for just the second time in the past decade, and hopefully Frank’s breakout campaign has not met an untimely end today.
- New York Islanders veteran Kyle Palmieri has started skating on his own, per Stefen Rosner of NHL.com, as he works his way back from a torn ACL suffered in November. A return before next fall won’t be happening, but it’s encouraging news for the 35-year-old. Considering that Palmieri forced a turnover and earned an assist in an unforgettable moment moments after the major injury, it’s another example of his resilience. The winger will root on his club to make it into the playoffs, looking ahead to 2026-27, the final year of his contract. Always durable, Palmieri played in just 25 games this year, the fewest since the 2011-12 season, but he was still productive with 18 points.
Morning Notes: Shea, Kuemper, Malenstyn
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a better season than most expected of them in 2025-26, and it’s been elevated contributions from players throughout the lineup that have powered them to this point. (Alongside to-be-expected star-level performances from players such as Sidney Crosby.) One player who has meaningfully improved his NHL stock as a Penguin is defenseman Ryan Shea. The Athletic’s Josh Yohe wrote yesterday that “the Penguins would like to keep [Shea] around,” and that he is a real candidate to receive a contract extension that keeps him from hitting the open market as a UFA this upcoming summer.
Shea is a textbook illustration of one of Penguins GM Kyle Dubas’ standout traits — his ability to work the margins of NHL rosters to uncover quality players, players he can acquire for very little and hand over to his coaching staff, who promptly turn them into legitimate NHLers. Dubas signed Shea to a one-year, league-minimum deal in 2023, handing the player a one-way contract despite him having zero NHL experience to that point. Shea rewarded Dubas with 31 NHL games played in his first year in Pittsburgh, and this season he’s emerged as a full-time NHLer. He’s scored 16 points in 48 games and is averaging 18:57 time on ice per game, including 2:07 on the penalty kill. Given how he’s earned head coach Dan Muse’s trust as a defensive defenseman, it’s no surprise Pittsburgh appears to want to keep him from hitting the open market as a UFA.
Other notes from around the NHL:
- Los Angeles Kings starting netminder Darcy Kuemper left the team’s victory over the New York Rangers last night early after appearing shaken up by a collision with Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski. The Kings announced his exit was due to an upper-body injury. It’s worth noting that Kuemper missed some time earlier this month with an upper-body injury. Kuemper has been solid for Los Angeles this season, though not quite as brilliant as 2024-25. He has a .904 save percentage in 32 games played.
- Buffalo Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn left the team’s victory over the Nashville Predators early after blocking a shot, and while the team did not announce any injury to the player, his status is nonetheless worth monitoring. The 27-year-old is a key bottom-six player for head coach Lindy Ruff, offering aggressive forechecking and physicality on a nightly basis. He has seven points in 48 games this season playing fourth-line minutes, with a regular role in the team’s rotation of penalty killers.
Ryan Shea Is Going To Get A Big Raise This Summer
Saying that Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea is having a career year would be a massive understatement. The 28-year-old has two goals and 14 assists in 41 games, is a +15, and averages over 19 minutes a night.
While plus/minus is a flawed statistic, it is eye-opening to see it that high. Shea has played up and down the Penguins’ defense this season, pairing with the likes of Kris Letang, Jack St. Ivany, Harrison Brunicke, and Parker Wotherspoon. No disrespect to any of those players, but St. Ivany has been a tweener to this point in his career, Brunicke is back playing in the World Juniors, and Letang has been a mess defensively for most of the year, making the +15 all the more impressive.
Shea spent much of the season paired with Letang, but in the last week, Shea and St. Ivany have formed an effective shutdown pairing for the Penguins, coinciding with an intense stretch of play for the team. Shea’s adaptability and offensive emergence couldn’t have come at a better time for the three-year NHL pro, as he is slated to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and is set to earn a healthy raise from the $900K he is making this year.
Shea signed that one-year deal last March, and it seemed like an odd bit of business for the Penguins at the time, as they were busy selling off at the trade deadline and Shea was a candidate to be moved. Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas clearly saw something he liked in Shea’s game and gave him a raise and guaranteed NHL money for this season in an extension that has been a windfall for Pittsburgh at a time when they needed a left-handed defenseman to step up and fill a massive weakness.
Not only did Shea step up, but he also effectively became the type of player Pittsburgh needed to acquire if they wanted to contend for a playoff spot, which may or may not have been the plan. Regardless of the intentions, Pittsburgh is in the playoff hunt, and Shea has been a massive part of that.
So, what is the plan for Shea now? That is the million-dollar question, or in Shea’s case, the multi-million-dollar question.
At the beginning of the season, AFP Analytics projected a one-year deal worth $1.075MM for Shea next season. That number is obviously going to be different now, but it’s fair to wonder how different it will be.
Shea has a lot working in his favor in his contract negotiations. He is still relatively young, doesn’t have a lot of NHL mileage on his body, and capable defensemen are always in demand.
Just look at one of his predecessors as Letang’s partner, Brian Dumoulin, who is much older and worn down, and who got three years and $12MM as a UFA last summer. On the flip side, Shea doesn’t have a long NHL resume, having played 111 games and entering his third season.
He also doesn’t have a track record as an impact defender outside this year. Shea had pedestrian results last season in 39 games, posting two goals and three assists, but he was leaned on heavily defensively. He didn’t have too many opportunities to chip in offensively.
His free agency is going to get interesting over the next two months, particularly if the Penguins stay in contention for a playoff spot and opt to hold onto him. Pittsburgh gave Shea his NHL opportunity, signing him to NHL money before he ever played an NHL game, demonstrating faith in his ability to become an NHL defenseman.
That 2023 signing showed absolute trust from Dubas and the Penguins, and it makes one wonder whether Shea will reward the team with a discount in negotiations. There is also a precise fit for both Shea and the team.
He fills a need well, and even on an extension, he won’t cost more than a potential replacement would in free agency or a trade. That said, there is always a risk in signing a one-hit wonder, as his play could be a mirage, and you end up locked in long-term with a player who can’t cut it in the NHL.
If the Penguins fall out of contention, on the other hand, it could change the complexion of Shea’s future, particularly if they deal him to a different team. Therein lies the risk for Shea, because if he gets traded elsewhere and falls flat on his face, it would pretty much tank his prospects for a long-term deal on the open market. But if he gets moved and succeeds, it removes a significant question mark surrounding him.
It remains to be seen whether Pittsburgh will even deal Shea if they fall out of contention. They didn’t last year, when Shea was more of an unknown, and it would seem silly to trade him now, when you have a better idea of what he can be in the NHL.
Pittsburgh might just sign him even if they fall out of contention, because they have the cap space and know what they have in Shea. They also have a ton of other pending UFA defensemen who don’t figure to be part of their future, and they could move those instead.
What could Shea be looking at in terms of a contract extension? It’s hard to predict, given the current economic climate.
Still, there are a couple of comparables, such as the Flyers’ Emil Andrae and the Flames’ Jake Bean. AFP Analytics has Bean pegged for a two-year deal worth $2.25MM per season, while Andrae is projected at $1.7MM AAV on a two-year deal. Declan Chisholm of the Capitals is another decent comparison in terms of career numbers. He signed his contract extension as an RFA, inking a two-year deal worth $1.6MM annually.
The issue with the Chisholm comparison is that he was an RFA, while Shea is unrestricted. However, using the framework of all the aforementioned contracts, it seems likely that Shea is headed for a two-year deal, possibly three, at a rate that probably tops the Bean projection.
However, this is the NHL, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Shea sign a four-year deal worth $3MM or more annually, given the surging salary cap and teams’ desperation for reliable defenseman.
Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.
Assessing Potential Under-The-Radar Trade Candidates
After two major trades last week involving players like Quinn Hughes, Marco Rossi, Tristan Jarry, and Stuart Skinner, the trade bait boards in the media have removed several names from the potential trade list. There are still many clear candidates available for trade, including Ryan O’Reilly, Rasmus Andersson, Alex Tuch, and Yegor Chinakhov. However, beyond that initial group of obvious options, there are less obvious, under-the-radar players who might come into play as the next few months unfold.
We start with a couple of Jets players who are near the bottom of the NHL standings and have been a colossal disappointment this season. Much of their struggles are due to three-time Vezina Trophy winner (and last season’s Hart Trophy winner) Connor Hellebuyck missing three weeks after an arthroscopic knee procedure on Nov. 21.
If this slow start persists, the Jets have two veterans, Gustav Nyquist and Jonathan Toews, who could be trade targets if Winnipeg decides to punt on this season. With just six assists in 24 games, Nyquist hasn’t been a fit in Winnipeg. The 36-year-old is on a one-year deal worth $3.25MM that he signed on July 1 and is only two years removed from posting 75 points in 81 games with the Predators.
Should Winnipeg make Nyquist available, he will attract significant interest due to his veteran experience and passing skills. Make no mistake, Nyquist is somewhat one-dimensional at this stage in his career, but he can also contribute on the penalty kill and occasionally score. Last year at the trade deadline, Nashville traded Nyquist to the Wild for a second-round pick; however, his performance this season (and last year) makes that return unlikely. Nyquist doesn’t have trade protection on his current deal.
Initially, Toews’ story was an incredible demonstration of perseverance and grit in getting back to the NHL. The Jets took a chance on Toews, hoping he could regain his spot as an NHL center in their top six, or at least their top nine. That hasn’t happened so far, as Toews has struggled to keep up with today’s NHL pace, which is understandable given his health issues and the time he was away from the game.
Winnipeg misjudged how effective Toews would be, and they are now paying the price in the standings because of a significant gap in their forward group. That said, they are still in the playoff hunt, and with an intense stretch of play, they could contend again. However, if they stumble, they might consider moving Toews if he’s willing to waive his no-move clause. Since he returned home to play for the Jets, it’s unlikely they will trade him or that he will accept a deal, but if Winnipeg’s struggles persist, it could become a real possibility.
Toews has been moved to the fourth line (along with Nyquist) and has scored just three goals and six assists in 33 games this season with a -13 rating while averaging 15:33 of ice time per game. Those stats mark the worst production of Toews’ career. He’s appeared slow this year, and Winnipeg seems like a team playing in slow motion when he is on the ice. It raises the question of whether they can continue to include him in the lineup.
The Jets signed Toews to make a substantial impact in the playoffs, but if the playoffs look unlikely, it makes sense to see if they can find him a team that will qualify and receive a small return. That is, if he wishes to play elsewhere.
Sticking with the Western Conference, the Blues have also disappointed this season, after pushing the Jets to the very limit in last year’s playoffs. St. Louis is a team caught between being a playoff contender and an up-and-coming squad, and it’s fair to wonder how many veterans they might move this season. Much has been said about Jordan Kyrou, Jordan Binnington, and Brayden Schenn, all of whom are on many trade candidate lists, but one name that isn’t talked about often is forward Mathieu Joseph.
Joseph is a Stanley Cup champion who could be a reliable addition to a contending team looking to strengthen its depth. The 28-year-old has a good shot, can kill penalties, and plays with a lot of speed. He is carrying a $2.95MM cap hit in the final year of a four-year deal and won’t cost a fortune for any team aiming to improve their lineup. Joseph would also bring a bit of physicality to the bottom of a forward group, making him a strong candidate for a trade.
Switching over to the Eastern Conference, a name that emerges as a somewhat under-the-radar trade candidate is defenseman Ryan Shea. The Penguins signed Shea to a one-year NHL contract in the summer of 2023 that included a $775K guarantee, despite him having never played an NHL game up to that point.
Shea had spent three seasons in the Stars’ minor league system after captaining Northeastern University in the NCAA. The 28-year-old is once again heading for free agency next summer and was earlier projected by AFP Analytics to receive a one-year deal worth just over $1MM.
However, his performance this season (two goals and 11 assists in 33 games) has raised his value, and he could be eyeing a multi-year contract considering his age and recent form. The Penguins have over $54MM in cap space for next season (as per PuckPedia) and could easily re-sign him, but it remains uncertain whether he fits into their long-term plans given their projected window of contention. If they see him as part of their top-six forward group, he will sign and stay; if not, he should be an available trade asset before the deadline due to his $900K cap hit.
Lastly, we have Teddy Blueger of the Canucks. Blueger has played just two games this season due to a lower-body injury, but is expected to return after Christmas, making him a likely trade candidate given his upcoming free agency next summer.
Blueger is a dependable pro and a consistent presence; he is a fourth-line center, no more, no less. The 31-year-old is in the final season of a two-year deal paying him $1.8MM and is likely to get a raise if he can return to the lineup and perform at his best. Blueger has been remarkably consistent throughout his career, peaking at 28 points in a season, a number he has reached multiple times.
Blueger isn’t overly big or fast, but he is an excellent forechecker and has some offensive skills beyond goal scoring, which he isn’t particularly good at. He is a smart player both offensively and defensively, especially on the penalty kill, where he has been excellent historically.
All these factors make Blueger a prime candidate to be moved before the deadline, given his timeline and the Canucks’ plans. Vancouver is about as unpredictable as any team can be right now, but Blueger has a Stanley Cup on his resume and will be sought after by playoff-bound teams, which Vancouver is not.
Afternoon Notes: Malkin, Shea, Talbot, Cossa, Svechnikov
The Pittsburgh Penguins will face the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday without lineup pillar Evgeni Malkin, who is set to sit out with a day-to-day upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Michelle Crechiolo. This will mark Malkin’s 12th absence since January 1st.
Malkin has continued to make a strong impact when he’s healthy. He has three points in his last five games, and 15 points in 23 games since the calendar turned over. Those marks have brought Malkin’s season-long scoring total up to 15 goals and 46 points in 62 games. That’s an 82-game scoring pace of just 61 points – the lowest of Malkin’s 19 year career in the NHL. Even still, he’s ranked fifth on the Penguins roster in scoring and fourth among forwards in average ice time (18 minutes). Malkin remains the focal point of Pittsburgh’s second-line, and leaves a noticeable hole in Tuesday night’s lineup. Kevin Hayes will see a boost in minutes in Malkin’s absence, while Joona Koppanen is expected to step into the lineup once again. Koppanen scored his first NHL goal on March 18th – his only point in four games.
While losing Malkin is always terrible news in Pittsburgh, the team will have a silver lining in the return of oft-used defenseman Ryan Shea, who missed the last seven-games with an upper-body injury – per Crechiolo. Shea has just five points in 30 games this season, though he’s heated up as of late – and played a season-high 24 minutes of ice time in his last game on March 9th. Shea has averaged 20 minutes of ice time in 10 games since January 1st. He likely won’t return to those heights immediately upon returning from injury – but could see his minutes slowly climb over Pittsburgh’s next few games.
Other notes around the league:
- Detroit Red Wings goaltender Cam Talbot will be healthy enough to serve as backup in Thursday night’s game, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. St. James adds that Talbot’s return will require Detroit to reassign top goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa, who was recalled with Detroit facing injuries to Talbot and Petr Mrazek. Mrazek remains out. Talbot will ease back into the lineup looking to build on his .898 save percentage through 38 games this season. Meanwhile, Cossa will return to the minor leagues looking to maintain his .913 save percentage through 35 AHL games. Cossa has held steady at a .913 Sv% in each of the last three seasons. The Red Wings’ starter’s crease will continue to be manned by Alex Lyon, who’s saved 39 of 44 shots against over his last two starts. Those marks have brought Lyon to a .899 Sv% in 27 games this season – second-highest on the Wings behind Mrazek’s .902 in five games played.
- The Carolina Hurricanes have received a boost of good news, with winger Andrei Svechnikov set to return to the lineup after he missed the last seven games with an upper-body injury per NHL.com’s Walt Ruff. The missed games brought Svechnikov up to eight absences this season – his fewest since the 2021-22 campaign. The 24-year-old winger has 18 goals and 43 points in 63 games this season. With such a chunk of missing games behind him, and just 11 games left on Carolina’s schedule, the ‘Canes will likely ease Svechnikov back into the lineup. He’ll likely rotate through a top-six role with wingers like Jackson Blake, Taylor Hall, and Jack Roslovic.
East Notes: Hurricanes, Penguins, Sabres
The Hurricanes have taken some big swings on the trade front the last couple of years, landing Jake Guentzel at the 2023 trade deadline and Mikko Rantanen earlier this season. But they weren’t able to sign either one with Rantanen subsequently being flipped. Despite not being able to sign either one, GM Eric Tulsky indicated in an interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic (subscription link) that he is more than willing to take another big swing on a prominent pending UFA should the opportunity present itself down the road, even without an extension in place. Tulsky believes that the team is usually able to keep the players that they want to and more often than not, the interest is mutual so in his mind, the odds should be good that they can get something done whenever they make a move to add another key rental in the future.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference:
- Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provided updates on a few injured Penguins. Defensemen Pierre-Oliver Joseph (upper body) and Ryan Shea (upper body) both skated before practice today while center Thomas Novak (lower body) has yet to hit the ice after being injured last week. Joseph was injured at the beginning of the month and quickly landed on IR while Shea was injured last week. Both blueliners have week-to-week designations while a timeline for Novak’s return remains uncertain.
- While the Sabres didn’t have JJ Peterka back in the lineup tonight against Boston, he’s on track to return on Thursday versus Utah, reports Lance Lysowski of The Athletic (Twitter link). Peterka has been one of Buffalo’s top scorers all season with 51 points in 61 games and while a playoff chase isn’t going to happen, the 23-year-old is a pending restricted free agent and will undoubtedly be hoping for a strong finish heading into contract talks. Meanwhile, Lysowski added that blueliner Jacob Bernard-Docker should make his Buffalo debut at some point on their four-game road trip. He was acquired at the trade deadline but only recently received his work visa to start skating with the team so he’ll need a few practices to get up to speed first.
Penguins’ Ryan Shea, Pierre-Olivier Joseph Out Week-To-Week
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury, head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters during his media availability Tuesday morning (via Josh Getzoff of SportsNet Pittsburgh). The team also updated the media that blue-liner Pierre-Olivier Joseph has been downgraded to week-to-week with the upper-body issue that’s already kept him out of the Pens’ last four games (per Wes Crosby of NHL.com).
Shea, 28, played a career-high 24:18 in Sunday’s win over the Wild, so it’s unclear when he sustained the injury. The career depth defenseman has seen his usage spike coming out of the 4 Nations break. After spending a good portion of the campaign as a healthy scratch, he’s now played in a season-high eight straight games, although that streak will end tonight against the Golden Knights. He has three points and an even rating while averaging 21:27 per game during that stretch, including his first career two-goal game against the Rangers on Feb. 23.
A two-way defender with conservative point production at the NHL level, the 6’2″ lefty is in his second NHL season. All his 61 career appearances have come in a Pittsburgh uniform, posting a 3-3–6 scoring line with a minus-six rating while averaging 14:44 per game. The former Blackhawks draft pick’s possession numbers have been good considering his defensively-skewed usage, controlling 49.5% of shot attempts at even strength since his debut last year while making 61.8% of his zone starts in the defensive end.
Shea is just four days removed from putting pen to paper on a one-year, $900K extension to keep him in Pittsburgh for the 2025-26 campaign. Now one of six defenders signed to one-way deals through next season with the Pens, he’s likely to see regular minutes again after avoiding minor-league assignments for the first time in his professional career in 2024-25.
Pittsburgh’s already thin defensive depth will be stretched even further with Joseph set to miss a few more games. He landed on injured reserve before the trade deadline, although since the roster limit has been lifted, it’s unclear whether Shea will join him on IR. Their absence necessitated the recall of Sebastian Aho from AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this morning. He’s projected to serve as a healthy extra against Vegas while Ryan Graves re-enters the lineup after sitting as a scratch for the win in Minnesota.
Before his latest injury, Joseph had disappointed with one assist and a -15 rating in 24 games since being re-acquired from the Blues in December. A pending restricted free agent, he’s likely to be non-tendered by Pittsburgh for the second summer in a row.
Penguins Sign Ryan Shea To One-Year Extension
After a fairly busy stretch on the trade front in recent days, the Penguins quickly turned their focus to one of their pending unrestricted free agents. The team announced that they’ve signed defenseman Ryan Shea to a one-year, $900K contract extension.
The 28-year-old has been a full-timer on an NHL roster for the first time in his career this season, albeit being primarily in a reserve role. Shea has suited up in 28 contests for Pittsburgh so far in 2024-25, notching two goals and three assists while averaging 16:30 per night. His role has increased significantly since the 4 Nations Face-Off, however, as he has averaged nearly 21 minutes per game since then and he should be in line to keep playing that bigger role down the stretch.
Shea came to Pittsburgh through Group Six unrestricted free agency after spending three years in their system without getting an NHL opportunity. He got into 31 games with the big club last season, earning a two-way deal for his efforts and now, he gets his highest guaranteed salary as he looks to cement a full-time spot in their lineup for 2025-26.
The Penguins now have five blueliners under contract for next season with Shea joining Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Ryan Graves, and Vladislav Kolyachonok. Matt Grzelcyk wasn’t moved by today’s deadline and is UFA-eligible this summer while Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Conor Timmins, acquired earlier today from Toronto, will be restricted free agents with salary arbitration rights.
Minor Free Agent Signings: Metropolitan Division
With over 180 deals signed during the first day of free agency yesterday, some smaller names may have gotten lost in the shuffle. Here’s a list of names that have inked two-way deals with Metropolitan Division clubs since the market opened yesterday, per CapFriendly. Some of these may have been included in our main coverage yesterday, while others went under the radar. All contracts carry the league-minimum $775K cap hit unless stated otherwise). Those listed here are likely to begin 2024-25 with each team’s AHL affiliate.
Carolina Hurricanes
none
Columbus Blue Jackets
D Cole Clayton (one year, $950K entry-level cap hit)
F Owen Sillinger (one year)
New Jersey Devils
F Mike Hardman (two years)
D Colton White (two years)
New York Islanders
none
New York Rangers
none
Philadelphia Flyers
none
Pittsburgh Penguins
D Nathan Clurman (one year)
D Mac Hollowell (one year)
F Jimmy Huntington (one year)
F Bokondji Imama (one year)
D Ryan Shea (one year)
Washington Capitals
G Mitchell Gibson (one year)
D Chase Priskie (one year)